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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Partlycloudy on November 5, 2008, at 21:31:11
Today, I fired my dentist.
It's (of course!) a long story, and related to my having previous working experience in the industry, but pretty much I ended up these last couple of years as a patient in a practice where it was clear that the entire staff - from the front office through the hygienist up to the dentist himself - had it in their head that I "understood" how a dental practice ought to be run. (That's code for - keep the schedule full at any cost, even if it means inconveniencing your patients.) Now they all knew that I was no longer working a regular job - but I liked to schedule my regular appointments like any other paying patient, and expected to be treated like one.Except that I never was. Each and every cleaning appointment was prefaced with no fewer than 3 calls from the practice, asking me to move my appointment around to better suit their schedule. Inevitably, they would have a cancellation, or someone wouldn't show up, and they would call me to see if I could come in to fill the gaping hole in their schedule. A year ago I spoke to the front office and asked them to make a note to please not reschedule my appointments (I actually keep a calendar and it doesn't suit my style to drop everything I'm doing to run down the street to get my teeth cleaned, like, NOW, instead of next week, when I was planning on it.) I'd complain when they'd call me about moving my appointments - "No, thanks," I'd say, with plenty of patience and heavy on the sarcasm, "I'll just keep the appointment I made 4 months ago, if that's OK."
I spoke to the hygienist about the problem. No result.
I spoke to the dentist about how MY time was just as valuable as HIS was. He agreed, Yup, it sure is! - and then my next appointment, I had the same routine happen.
So the other day they called me to confirm my appointment that's coming up in a couple of weeks. Oh, and guess what? They had an opening for this week if I could make it any sooner. Uhhh.... no.
Today I called to cancel the appointment altogether. The response? Could I come in tomorrow instead? (Argh.) Not exactly. I got a referral for a dentist for cowards (that would be me); made a new patient appointment for next week, and called the old annoying office back - and asked them to forward my most recent bitewing and fmx x-rays to my new dentist.
End of story. And this new dentist will never, ever know that I ever worked in a dental office, I swear!!!!
Posted by Poet on November 6, 2008, at 9:31:16
In reply to Assertive action of the day, posted by Partlycloudy on November 5, 2008, at 21:31:11
Hi PC,
Congratulations on biting back.
I agree, don't let the new dentist know you have personal knowledge of how things should run.
I like my dentist, he doesn't have an assistant or a hygenist. He does everything himself from xrays to cleaning. There's just a billing/receptionist. I hope he doesn't retire anytime soon.
Poet
Posted by fayeroe on November 6, 2008, at 12:04:25
In reply to Assertive action of the day, posted by Partlycloudy on November 5, 2008, at 21:31:11
Very important assertive action!! I am happy that you decided to find a new dentist.
Sounds to me like your old dentist was a bit "greedy" and has no regard for the patient's time.xoxoxo pat
Posted by Angela2 on November 6, 2008, at 15:42:28
In reply to Re: Assertive action of the day » Partlycloudy, posted by fayeroe on November 6, 2008, at 12:04:25
Yeah good for you PC. Inspirational story!
This is the end of the thread.
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